Delhi Environment Minister Blames Punjab for Sudden Rise in Pollution Levels

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has claimed that more than 580 stubble-burning incidents were recorded in Punjab in a single day on the 3rd of this month. During his visit to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at Shastri Park in the national capital, Mr Sirsa said Delhi’s AQI was 60 on the 30th of last month, rising to 117 on the 31st. He questioned what had happened in just three days to cause the sudden rise in pollution, asserting that there had been no new construction, polluting vehicles or industries in Delhi. The Minister said that, according to data provided by the Punjab government, 70 per cent of paddy harvesting had been completed. Mr Sirsa accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of lying about the commencement of paddy harvesting in the state. Citing pollution data from Punjab, he claimed that the pollution level in Bathinda was above 1,100, while it was above 1,000 in Talwandi Sabo.